SMUGGLING RING DRIVER GETS 5 YEARS’ PROBATION

San Diego 
A woman who worked as a driver in a human smuggling ring that employed a corrupt U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was sentenced to five years of probation by a federal judge Monday.

Vanessa Moya, 30, pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy, bribery and smuggling unauthorized immigrants into the U.S. for financial gain. She worked as a driver for a group of smugglers headed by two men, border Officer Hector Rodriguez and Gerardo Rodriguez, a longtime friend. The two are not related.

Both were indicted in July, along with Moya, and charged with smuggling people through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The key to the scheme was Hector Rodriguez, who had worked for Customs and Border Protection for four years.

He would tell the others in advance what his work schedule was, in particular which lane he was assigned to work at the port of entry on a specific day. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego said Hector Rodriguez would allow vehicles full of illegal immigrants, driven by Moya and Gerardo Rodriguez, through his inspection lane.

Hector Rodriguez would then enter false data about the driver and the vehicle into computers at the inspection lane, then allow them to enter the country. Each immigrant paid $10,000 to $15,000 to be smuggled in.

The scheme went on for about two years, during which time hundreds of unauthorized immigrants were smuggled in. Investigators documented at least 37 trips where Hector Rodriguez allowed cars to pass through his inspection lane without being properly checked.

Hector Rodriguez received cash, jewelry and a luxury car as proceeds from the bribes. He and Gerardo Rodriguez have pleaded guilty and are to be sentenced July 1.

Moya was recruited into the ring by her aunt, Maria Guerrero, her lawyer said. She has no prior criminal record. Guerrero has also pleaded guilty.